After a closure of over 25 years, Cooch Behar Airport resumed commercial service in February 2023 with IndiaOne Air's nine-seater flights to Kolkata under the UDAN scheme, contracted to run three years until 2026. The operator instead unilaterally notified authorities it would stop flying from February 1, 2026 — barely two years in — abruptly ending the route again and triggering a political blame row between the BJP and Trinamool Congress over funding responsibility.
On record
The official record states: "The Airport Director stated the airline "informed us in writing that they will stop operating from February 1," with no specific commercial reason disclosed publicly."
Filed as "Ghost infrastructure (no flights)" and dated to Commercial service resumed February 2023, this entry sits under the "Not specified" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A terminal built for a passenger rush that never boarded.
- A departures board with more staff than flights, most days none of either.
- A conveyor belt kept in working order out of sheer optimism.
- A runway whose length remains a subject of expert disagreement.
Sourcing
2 public sources — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“A structure whose main output is status updates.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
- https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cooch-beharkolkata-flight-to-stop-from-feb-2026-sparks-row-637989
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooch_Behar_Airport
Visitor reviews
“Showed up with a guidebook that had already given up on it. The foundation stone has outlasted two governments.”
“Came here instead of the museum and regret nothing. It relieves congestion the way a second problem relieves the first.”
“Found it by following a group of equally confused tourists. The site meeting quorum must exceed the site workforce.”